As the CEO of Advize and someone who's navigated the graduate school decision myself, I often see undergraduates wrestling with this crucial choice. Maybe you're watching your friends fill out applications to law school, or your parents are dropping hints about MBA programs. Perhaps you're just feeling stuck and thinking,
"Well, more education can't hurt, right?"
Let's pause right there.
Why I Care About This Topic
As a former life coach, I've worked with countless young professionals grappling with career decisions. I've seen too many bright minds default to graduate school simply because they're struggling at work or unsure about their next move. In fact, I had clients who were considering graduate programs for roles that didn't even require advanced degrees! Through just a few hours of strategic thinking and market research, we were able to save them years of unnecessary schooling and thousands in tuition.
The Graduate School Default Trap
Let me be clear: Graduate school—whether it's law school, medical school, an MBA, or any other advanced degree—is not a default solution to career uncertainty. Here's why:
It's expensive (often very expensive)
It's intellectually and emotionally demanding
It sets you on a specific career trajectory
It represents years of your life and earning potential
I often say that climbing the ladder of success is meaningless if that ladder is leaning against the wrong building. Graduate school shouldn't be your "backup plan" or your "I don't know what else to do" option.
A Goal-First Approach: My Personal Strategy
Let me share my own story. When I was considering an MBA, I didn't just jump in because it seemed like a good idea. I had a specific goal: I wanted to become a Chief Learning Officer (CLO). My background was in talent, recruitment, and learning and development, so this felt like a natural progression.
Here's exactly what I did:
I found current CLOs and studied their backgrounds on LinkedIn
I looked for patterns in their career trajectories
I discovered that an MBA had helped people from similar backgrounds reach executive positions faster
I noticed something interesting: CLO was a relatively new role, and there weren't many MBA-groomed leaders in this space
This research led me to craft a specific strategy: I would use my MBA to become one of the few specifically educated CLOs in the market. The degree wasn't just a credential—it was a tactical step in a larger strategic plan.
How to Make Your Own Decision
Based on my experience as both a CEO and former life coach, here's how I recommend approaching this decision:
Start with Advize
We have over 2,000 interview video clips from professionals with graduate degrees
Watch how they talk about their work
Ask yourself: "Do I want to be like them? Does their career path excite me?"
Study their backgrounds to understand how graduate school specifically helped them
Define Your End Goal
What role do you ultimately want?
What kind of work energizes you?
Where do you want to be in 10 years?
Research Real Career Paths
Study the backgrounds of people in positions you admire
Look at career outcome data from specific programs
Connect with professionals in your target field
Calculate the ROI
Consider the total cost (tuition, lost income, time)
Research typical salaries for your target roles
Factor in the opportunity cost of alternative paths
When Graduate School Isn't the Answer
From my coaching experience, I've seen many cases where what looks like a graduate school problem is actually something else:
Career dissatisfaction
Need for new skills (which might be acquired through other means)
Desire for change
Imposter syndrome
External pressure from family or peers
I've had clients who spent months agonizing over graduate school applications, only to realize through a couple of hours of targeted conversations that they could achieve their goals without additional degrees. Of course, I am an education nerd and believe there are wonderful things about graduate school (as I got my MBA and may get my PhD someday, but it's not always the answer for everyone especially if they are financially struggling and lack a clear goal).
Making Your Decision
Before you start filling out applications, I recommend these steps:
Use Resources Like Advize
Watch interviews with professionals in your target field
Study their career trajectories
Understand how graduate degrees impacted their paths
Test Your Assumptions
Is graduate school truly required for your goals?
Could you achieve the same outcome through a different path?
Are you excited about the work itself, or just the idea of the credential?
Consider Alternatives
Could a certification program suffice?
Would direct industry experience be more valuable?
Is there a faster or less expensive path to your goal?
The Bottom Line
From my perspective as both a CEO and someone who strategically used graduate school to advance my career, I can tell you that graduate education can be an incredibly powerful tool—when it aligns with your goals. But it should never be a default choice or an escape route from career uncertainty.
Remember: Just because you like school or don't know what to do doesn't mean you should go to graduate school. Think about your goal and try to figure out what you want first through research. At Advize, we're continually adding more professional interviews to help you make this crucial decision.
And if after all your research, you find yourself saying "yes" to graduate school with clear purpose and conviction? Well, that's when it's time to start planning—but that's a topic for another article.
Good luck!
Emily McSherry,
CEO Advize